As Kristen and Kate Cormier lounged on the sands of Spaulding Pond Beach in Norwich on Saturday, the swimming hole’s newest attraction was hardly recognizable to them.

But for city leaders and the lifeguards who work at the Mohegan Park site daily, the opening of a new modular building that features three changing stations, a storage area and room for two vending machines was a cause for celebration.

“It’s a building that’s going to last longer than you and I. It has electricity and no squirrels inside,” Recreation Director C. Roger Moss said of the $130,000 structure. “This is definitely a jewel for the park.”

Seeing the roughly 260-square-foot building come to fruition was an effort launched by Moss’s predecessor, Luis DePina. It replaces an outdated, dilapidated and dirty building officials were anxious to phase out.

“The floor was uncleanable. And these changing rooms actually lock from the inside,” Moss said.

Officials timed the dedication to coincide with the opening of the beach on Saturday, though swimming is not allowed until at least Monday, when the Uncas Health Department will test the water.

Though a simple addition to the beach, the building is designed to make people feel more comfortable at the popular recreation spot.

“It’s long overdue, and will encourage more people to use the park, which is a 340-acre crown jewel of our city,” Mayor Peter Nystrom said.

Kristen Cormier agreed with that assessment.

“We may come here more,” she said.

The building also contains storage space for safety equipment and tools, which makes work easier for the lifeguards who patrol the beach.

“This is nice. It was time for that other one to go,” said Kaitlin O’Connell, of Yantic, who is in her fourth summer as a city lifeguard.

In addition to public use, Moss said many camp groups come to the beach for field trips. He said providing a spacious, secure facility in which to change was a major goal for his department.

The facility was built as a capital improvement project with dollars allocated by the City Council.

Mohegan Park Improvement and Development Advisory Committee member Mikel Middleton said public input helped convince the council and the committee it was needed.

“The board really takes into consideration everything the public wants,” he said. “I’m sure that we will get more people out here.”

Katie Cormier said she’ll definitely come back again.

“It’s nice to have something local that we can enjoy for the day and not worry about the cost,” she said.